Looking back on stammering and those who bravely overcame it

It was first held in the UK and Ireland in 1998.
The day is intended to raise public awareness of the issues faced by millions of people – one per cent of the world’s population – who stutter or stammer.

Prince Charles at a reception for the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children (Image: Ian Nicholson)
Every year, stuttering communities and associations around the world get together, put on events and campaign to highlight how certain aspects of society can be difficult for people who stammer; to challenge negative attitudes and discrimination; and to debunk myths that people who stammer are nervous or less intelligent.

Michael Wright (left) overcame his stammer (Image: John Story)
ISAD also celebrates the many notable figures who stammer who have made a mark on the world now and throughout history in the fields of science, politics, philosophy, art, cinema and music.

Matthew Maginn of Ulverston was striving to beat his stammer (Image: Milton Haworth)
Many famous names such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, King George VI and Alan Turing all had stammers, which the British Stammering Association defines as a neurological condition that makes it physically hard to speak.

Jack Goodwin (centre) organised a charity bingo game for The Starfish Project for stammerers (Image: Submitted)
Someone who stammers may repeat sounds or syllables, make sounds longer, get stuck on certain words or have words that don’t come out at all, despite knowing what they want to say.

Jack Goodwin from Kells was working hard at beating his stammer after going on a Starfish Project course (Image: Mike McKenzie)
About eight per cent of children will stammer at some point in their lives, but most will go on to talk fluently. The NHS estimates that stammering affects around one in 100 adults, with men being three to four times more likely to stammer than women.

Tim Fell, chair of the British Stammering Association (Image: Newsquest)
Like other neurological conditions, stammering covers a wide spectrum, with every individual stammering differently and to different degrees.

James Tennant fastened a belt around his chest to regulate when he breathed and spoke (Image: Newsquest)
Our pictures show those in Cumbria who successfully overcame the problem along with efforts to help sufferers, such as a reception at Clarence House hosted by Prince Charles for the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children in 2010.

Michael Palin (centre) with politician Ed Balls and Prince Charles at a reception for the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children at Clarence House (Image: Newsquest)